Carson City officials, Visit Carson City and representatives of the Never Sweats literary society unveil a bronze statue of Mark Twain in McFadden Plaza on July 24, 2026.
Photo by Jessica Garcia.
Sculptor Gary Lee Price enjoys people literally embracing his art. He’ll post “please touch” signs to affirm his works are inviting.
So it is with Carson City’s famed author and newspaper reporter Samuel L. Clemens, also known as Mark Twain. His bronze likeness sits on a bench, appearing deep in thought, in McFadden Plaza outside of the Fox Restaurant and Brewery.
“It just makes sense that we should be celebrating where Mark Twain lived,” Price said. “I think he should be honored. He’s brought so much light to others and joy and happiness.”
Thanks to the support of Visit Carson City, grassroots literary society Never Sweats and Nevada nonprofit Invisible Hands Foundation, Carson City’s Board of Supervisors accepted Price’s donation July 16 as part of a commitment to building a display of high-quality public art. The statue was unveiled Friday.
The impressionistic Twain can have children climbing on him or adults sitting next to him in reflection. Price hopes for such encounters, he said.
“My mantra is lifting the human spirit through sculpture and embrace my sculptures,” he said.
Price also has sculpted playwright William Shakespeare, former Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt, founding father Benjamin Franklin and aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart. They are part of Price’s “Great Contributors” collection that honor inspiring historic figures who also were considered human in everyday life.
“All of the people we put on pedestals like Mark Twain and think they’re above humanity and demigods, I thought I want to bring them down to earth,” Price said. “We have the same intelligence and ability to do something like them, to do something incredible. We have the same talents.”
Clemens has a special presence in Carson City, Price said. He reported on the Legislature for the Territorial Enterprise newspaper in Virginia City in 1862 and 1863, adopted the name Mark Twain, left for a short stint in San Francisco but returned to Carson City in 1866. He wrote his famous book “Roughing It” in 1872 entailing his life in Nevada and died in 1910. Price sculpted Twain holding a copy of this book.
“He had a beautiful sense of humanity,” Price said. “(Nevadans) love that he was a common man, humorous and intelligent. He had a career of ups and downs and was bankrupt at 60.”
One special guest who captured the crowd’s attention after the unveiling was the author’s great-grandnephew Michael Clemens. Visitors couldn’t resist asking for Clemens to sit as a true descendant with an uncanny likeness. He and his wife were celebrating their 44th anniversary during the weekend and decided to stop in Carson City for the unveiling, he said.
“It’s a very big honor for Samuel Clemens because he’s well known about these parts, and I feel very fortunate to be involved in a little part of this with him,” he said.
Clemens said he has books and photos on the wall at home celebrating his famous ancestor.
Carson City’s “Ghost of Twain,” McAvoy Layne, joined by FaceTime thanks to Susan Clemons, one of the funders from the Never Sweats, along with her husband Gary Clemons.
Layne told the Appeal earlier Friday he was grateful to give credit where it is due, including the local literary aficionados.
“(The statue) is not only going to bring smiles to people’s faces but it could inspire a young author to give us the next great American novel,” he said. “Let’s hope so.”
Susan Clemons said she and her husband have enjoyed the camaraderie Price’s sculpture developed.
“It has been our true honor to be part of the Never Sweats Literary Society and we are grateful for the friendships we’ve made with these wonderful historians,” she said. “Gary and I feel privileged to support this sculpture commemorating Mark Twain’s Legacy in Carson City.”
More information about Price and his statue can be found at garyleeprice.com. Carson City’s public art collection inventory is available at carsoncity.gov/arts.